7 Imposters: Healthy Foods That Aren't

You can't open a newspaper, website or iPhone app without reading about the dangers lurking on our dinner plate (OK I'm kidding about the iPhone app.) Trans-fats and high-fructose corn syrup are the demons d'jour and with the modern diet being what it is, the food police don't seem to be in any danger of running out of new material to warn us about.

Fair enough. But what about all the "health" foods we've been told are our nutritional salvation? Are they all they're cracked up to be?

There's no better place to start than with salmon, generally thought to be one of the best of the superfoods. And it is-- when it's wild. Farm raised salmon have up to 8 times the level of carcinogenic PCBs as wild salmon. Kept in crowded pens, they're fed grain and fishmeal and a ton of antibiotics. Wild salmon are a health food. Farmed salmon... not so much.

Then there's cereal, believed by many to be the center of a healthy breakfast because of its high-fiber content. But with few exceptions, most supermarket cereals are fiber lightweights. Most are loaded with sugar (contributing to mood swings and energy dips). Whole grains are better, but those who are sensitive to blood sugar fluctuations will have still have to be careful. The best cereals are old-fashioned oatmeal, and a few standouts like Fiber One and All-Bran. Look for those that pass the "5 and 5" rule: less than 5 grams of sugar, more than 5 grams of fiber. (You'll be surprised at how few make the cut.)

Granola bars are simply candy bars masquerading as a health food. Most are simply chewy versions of candy bars--they have very little fiber, lots of processed carbs, and a ton of sugar. You're better off "rolling your own" out of raw oats, chopped almonds, coconut flakes, raisins and a dollop of raw organic honey or molasses to hold it together.

Frozen yogurt is a prime example of the triumph of marketing over good sense. The only thing frozen yogurt has in common with real yogurt is that they're both white. Real yogurt- one of the healthiest foods on earth-- is loaded with live cultures which support your digestive health. The live culture content of most frozen yogurt is precisely zero. What's more, frozen yogurt is usually filled with chemicals, and the artificial sweeteners in the non-fat kind can cause cravings just like sugar. You're better off with real, creamy, organic ice cream. Just don't eat too much.

Though most of us have been led to believe canola oil is the bees knees, it actually isn't such a health bargain after all. The high temperatures needed to extract the oil from the rapeseed plant from which it comes make canola oil's highly touted omega-3's rancid and foul smelling, requiring them to be deodorized, a process which creates some trans-fatty acids. It also goes through caustic refining, bleaching and degumming. Unless it's cold-pressed and organic, stay away.

And what could possibly be healthier than an egg-white omelet? Give up? Whole eggs! While an egg-white omlette isn't exactly unhealthy, it's hardly as good as the real thing. The yolk contains the superstars of eye nutrition, utein and xeazanthin which need fat to be absorbed properly. Egg yolks are an important source phosphatidylcholine an important nutrient for brain health.

Apples- healthy. Apple juice- maybe not. One cup of apple juice has zero grams of fiber, 117 calories, and 29 grams of carbs of which 27 are sugar (and your typical serving is a lot more than a cup). Sorry, but that's not a health drink, it's sugar water with apple flavoring. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Wish I could say the same about apple juice, but I can't.

So what's the take home? Simple: eat real food. Food your grandmother would have recognized as food. Food you could hunt, fish, gather or pluck. Food as close to its natural form as possible. Food without a bar code. Whole fruit (not the fruit juice). Whole eggs (not the egg whites). Meat, eggs and milk from healthy, grass-fed cows and chickens that roam around pecking at worms (free-range). Any vegetable in the world.

Even if you don't hit the "bulls eye" 100 percent of the time, you'll still be way ahead of the game.

Asparagus: ATasty Weight Loss Treat

This article is written by my colleague Dr. Leo Galland, author of The Fat Resistance Diet - Jonny

Delicious young asparagus has arrived at farm stands and local markets. Now is the time to enjoy them while the stalks are tender. Asparagus are a good source of fiber and contains important nutrients. They have Vitamin K, which is good for your bones. Asparagus are also a source of beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, which are anti-inflammatory and help support weight loss.

I like to soak the asparagus several times to remove the sand. Then trim the tough ends of the asparagus. You may like your long stems and others may favor the Asian style perhaps cutting more of the stem into an angled piece which is very appealing if you have never tried this style before. This size can be tossed into a salad or a stir-fry.

Steam asparagus for a few minutes in very little water. Steam until brilliant green and fork tender. Watch them and be careful not to overcook.

A bowl of cooked asparagus on the kitchen counter will simply disappear as a delicious snack. Having only 40 calories per cup makes this an allowable treat. A squeeze of lime or lemon and perhaps a dash of salt and pepper completes your dish. Enjoy!

To receive a free one day meal plan with recipes visit www.fatresistancediet.com.

Diet Secret: Healthy Snacks

Jonny reveals two of his favorite between-meal snacks.

Give the Gift of Jonny for the Holidays

OK I cringed when writing that headline- my only excuse is that my brilliant webmaster and marketing guru Christopher Loch thought of it, not me. But here's the deal: Amazon is offering a special bundle containing three of my books for just $49.45 (you save $25.48):

• The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth
  
  
  
• The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth
  
  
  
• The Healthiest Meals on Earth
  

A lot of people have told me that they were going to give one or more of my books for holiday presents, so maybe this is a good time! Granted the "together" price is about the same as you would get on Amazon if you bought them separately, but still, it's a great deal because Amazon discounts so deeply (34% on each book). I'd be honored if you'd consider giving people you love the whole collection. Or give them as separate gifts.

If you're familiar with the books, skip this next section, but just in case you're not:

The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth tells you the surprising and unbiased truth about foods- which ones are great and why. It's also got some (I hope) interesting essays and information about grass-fed vs. organic meat, farm vs. wild salmon, and the "truth about soy". I'm thrilled to say it's going into its second year as a best-seller and into its fifth printing.

The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth examines the way natural medicine and nutrition (and sometimes modalities like acupuncture or reflexology) can significantly impact a whole host of illnesses and conditions. I also give you "prescriptions" when appropriate, and tell you what the science says (and what it does not).

The Healthiest Meals on Earth is a great companion to "The 150 Healthiest Foods". It puts together over 40 superb meals based on the "Polymeal" concept of making each meal as dense in vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, fiber, omegas and anti-inflammatories while tasting unbelievable. The recipes were developed by my associate, the amazing Jeanette Bessinger. The essays on food- and why these meals are so great for you- are by me.

(My really new book- The 150 Most Effective Ways to Boost Your Energy will be out Jan 1st so it's not included, although you can preorder it for $16.49)

Anyway, thanks to Chris for the "Give The Gift of Jonny" idea, and I hope those books give you some inspiration to give those you love the gift of health for this holiday season. After all, there's no greater gift- unless its love- and they kind of go together!